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Gunman could have chosen a different path

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  • Originally published July 30, 2008 at 6:15 p.m., updated July 30, 2008 at 6:15 p.m.

Editor, the Advocate:

The Unitarian Universalist community is grieving — grieving for the loss of two of its members and the injury of seven more; grieving for the 200 adults and 25 children who survived the attack of a gunman during a Sunday morning youth program at church (in Knoxville, Tenn.); and grieving for Jim Adkisson, the 58-year-old assailant who didn’t expect to come out alive.

Questions loom large. Why did he choose violence over coming to us for help?

He would have been welcomed at the UU church; we believe in the inherent worth and dignity of all people.

We welcome people of all colors, incomes, sexual orientations, nationalities and faiths.

We believe in an independent search for truth and meaning, and that truth may be found in many sources, including all world religions, science and nature.

All these freedoms, but we do require that everyone follow one Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Yes, the Golden Rule. Pretty much every religion has it, but how many of us follow it? I understand as well as anybody how much easier it is to do unto others what I think they did to me. How much easier it is to say, “Push me and I’ll push you back harder.”

Was this the driving force behind Jim Adkisson’s motives?

Did he perceive that my church was somehow to blame for his suffering and wanted us to feel as badly as he did?

Well, he certainly didn’t need a gun for us to feel his pain — anger, isolation, fear, despair. These are emotions we all know. And this is exactly why we go to church: to seek paths toward joy and happiness — community, spirituality, study, charity. Why couldn’t Jim have chosen one of these paths instead?

Maybe answers will emerge, maybe not. Either way, two innocent people have died, and many more were affected.

And, now in addition to being alone, unemployed and at risk of losing his food stamps, Jim Adkisson will have to live the remainder of his life a murderer. This is the path he chose.

Perhaps instead these are the most relevant questions to ponder: Can we find a place in our hearts to see any good come of this? Can we forgive Jim Adkisson?

I believe in the spirit of the Unitarian Universalists, and I believe one day the answer to these final questions will be “Yes.”

Until then, we’ll keep going to church.

Jesica McCue, PhD

Victoria



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Comments

  • xring xring Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink  | 

    Jessica: there are people in this world that are just plain violent sociopaths. They prey upon the innocent and enjoy watching fear in the eyes of their victim. We as a society can ask ourselves "what we could have done to make a difference or change the outcome?". Sometimes the answer is "nothing". There will always be "wolves" in our midst.

    As responsible people we need to be aware of our environment (even in church) and make an effort to protect the innocent. The perpetrator in this instance is lucky there was not an armed member of the congregation, for his fate would have been different.
    Stay safe.
    Xring

    July 31, 2008 at 8:54 p.m.